Congressman Gerlach headed to re-election win over Trivedi

U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach appeared on his way to reelection Tuesday night over Democratic challenger Manan Trivedi in Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District.

As of 11 p.m., Republican Gerlach was ahead in the race, with 122,605 votes, to Trivedi’s 90,727 votes. About 88 percent of the vote has been counted.

Gerlach has served the district as a U.S. Congressman for 10 years. Before that, he was a state senator and state representative from northern Chester County. Gerlach, 57, lives in Chester Springs, and could not be reached for comment.

Trevedi conceded the race shortly before midnight.

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The district includes parts of Berks, Chester, Montgomery and Lebanon counties. Gerlach was leading Trevedi in all counties.

Gerlach, cast his vote at Montgomery School in Chester Springs, where he said he had also seen a lot of support and enthusiasm.

“(Today’s) gone very well,” said Gerlach. “Big turnout, big turnout in the areas that we like to see a turnout in, but also all over, I think all over. Even in traditionally Democratic areas it’s a big turnout, so I think that the American people realize this is a really, really important election, and they’re coming out to voice themselves in terms of who they think would be the best person to be president next and all the other races on the ballot. In the new areas of the district, in Lebanon County, and parts of Berks County, Montgomery County, even here in Chester County, a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of good support. So we’re excited, we look forward to serving the people of this area for another two years.”

Darren Berringer, campaign spokesperson for Trivedi, said that they will wait until the final votes have been counted to issue a comment about the results so far.

Trivedi, 38, was running against Gerlach’s seat for a second time, with his first campaign in 2010. Currently a resident of Birdsboro, in Berks County, Trivedi also works as a primary care physician and is an Iraq War veteran.

Although Trivedi could not vote for himself this year, due to redrawing of district lines earlier this year that shifted Trivedi’s residence about two miles from the district, he said that he had received reports of high voter turnout.

“We feel good about our prospects based on the reports of high turnout we are receiving and because of the hundreds of volunteers working across the district,” said Trivedi. “The dedication our supporters have demonstrated throughout this campaign has only increased in its intensity today.

“(Gerlach’s) opinions are closer to where I want to be,” said Maria Jacobs, Republican Committeewoman in West Vincent. “I think that he’ll win. I think he has a lot of strong followers in this area.”

Jacobs said that turnout for her precinct, based in the West Vincent Township’s Administrative Building, had been “very steady. It’s 3 p.m. and I think we are well over our halfway point – we’re over 900 votes right now, and I believe our precinct is about 1,800.”

John Rieder, Democratic committeeperson in West Vincent, said he found the strong turnout to be amazing.

“This morning we probably had around 100 to 120 people when the polls opened,” said Rieder. “I think there’s a high voter interest. Our precinct generally has a reasonably good turnout. It’s a very informed electorate, and certainly with the very clear choice that the two presidential candidates are offering, there are some pretty strong feelings on both sides.”

Reider also said that he is hopeful that Trivedi, who he is voting for, will “do very well. It is a difficult district for a democratic, but he seems to have worked very hard. He has more voter recognition than he has in the past.”

All results are unofficial until verified by the state Board of Elections.